Work-box.



PATENTED JUNE 4, 1907.

P. T. ows. WORK BOX. APPLIUATION FILED NOV. 6, 1906.

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wit sea FRANK T. HO /VE, OF NEW BEDFORD, MASSACHUSETTS.

WORK-BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 4, 1907.

Application filed November 5, 1906. Serial No. 342,131.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK T. HOWE, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Bedford, in the county of Bristol and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in WVork-Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved work box for the use of scamstresses or others embodying devices useful and necessary in the art of sewing, the invention comprising a box or receptacle prefer ably oval in shape provided with a pin cushion, a sheath for scissors, a spring tension guide thread and cutter, and a spool post, and being also provided with a suspending tape or chain by which the device may be suspended from the operators waist by pin- -ning thereto, and a clip by which the box may be secured in a detachable manner to a ledge, table or other convenient support, the clip being so arranged as it may be swung up against the bottom of the box out of the way when the device is not to be attached to a table or stand.

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof and alsoto acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means for effecting the result, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved work box. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the thread cutter and guide.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 1 designates the base plate or bottom of my improved work box or receptacle, and 2 designates the side walls thereof, preferably made of press board and secured to the bottom in any desired way and projecting below the lower face of the bottom so as to produce a marginal flange 3. Preferably the box is substantially oval in shape as shown. Projecting upwardly from one end of the bottom 1 is a post 4 over which a spool maybe placed, and 5 designates a pin cushion of any desired construction mounted upon the other end of said bottom. At. one side of the device, between the pin cushion and the spool post, is located a sheath 6, which surrounds an opening extending through the bottom as shown, and which is designed to inclose a pair of scissors inserted therein, so that the scissors may be kept always at hand when the device is carried about o nes person.

Directly opposite the sheath 6 is a spring tension thread guide and cutter 7, which in the present instance comprises a supporting block 8 and two tension members 9 and 10. These latter are in the form of steel strips secured to the side edges of the block 8 and bent over the upper edge of said block so as to lie one upon the other. The lowermost of the two tension members is of spring metal, and is designed to press upwardly against the upper member, the thread being drawn between the two tension members from the spool. The lowermost tension member presses upwardly to grip the thread, and one end of the upper tension member 9 is bent upwardly so as to produce a cutting edge 12, on which the thread may be readily cut.

13 designates a headed stud which projects upwardly from the upper face of the block 8 and extends through both of the tension members, so as to limit the upward tension thereof, and at the same time prevent the thread from ever becoming lodged under the free end of the lower tension member and the upper face of the block.

14 designates a suspending member which is secured to opposite ends of the box, and which may be formed of tape or chain, or the like. Preferably the suspended tape or chain is provided with a safety pin hooked in so that the entire device may be attached to and extended from the operators waist or some portion of her garments.

In order that my improved work box may be readily secured in a detachable manner to the edge of a table or any suitable support, I provide a clip, 16, which in the present instance, as shown, is spring wire of suitable.

thickness and strength and provided with a shank 17 held to turn about its longitudinal axis on the lower face of the bottom 1 by means of staples 18 or similar bearings. This wire to form a clip is returned upon itself and bent outwardly at its free end as shown, and

I as a whole extends longitudinally of thebox bottom, and is of such a curvature and width at its bend, as to frictionally engage and contact against the depending flange 3 of the side walls 2. Hence, when it is not desired to use this clip, it may be turned on its shank as an axis and spring into engagement with the said flange 3 so as to be firmly held lying against the lower face of the bottom 1. When it is desired to use the clip, it may be disengaged from the frictional contact with the flange 3 and turned out to stand at right-angles to the bottom 1, and then the entire device may be secured upon a ledge or table or the like by slipping the device endwise over the desired support.

From the foregoing description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, it will be seen that I have provided a very useful and comprehensive box or receptacle for holding those articles which are most necessary for seamstresses use and which may be either suspended from the garments of the operator or secured to a ledge or table, or set upright on the table.

Having thus described my invention, what is claimed as new is: l

1. The combination with a work box for seamstresses use embodying a bottom and side walls which extend below the bottom whereby to produce a depending flange, of a spring clip provided with a shank mounted to turn on the lower face of said bottom and doubled upon itself, the return portion of the clip being adapted to frictionally engage said flange, whereby to maintain the clip while lying against the lower face of the said bottom.

2. A work box for seamstresses use pro vided with a spring tension guide and cutter, consisting of a block, upper and lower tension members secured to said block and adapted to grip a thread between them sufficiently to give proper tension on the thread while being drawn from the spool, the block being provided with a headed stud projecting from its upper face and extending through both of said tension members, and also being provided with an upwardly bent extremity constituting a cutting edge. I

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK T. HOWE. 

